He said the entire environment was established to appeal to children and the scrubs covered in the likes of Tweety Bird or Mickey Mouse fitted that.

Last month the Waikato District Health Board unveiled their newly designed Waikids wards which were specifically designed and decorated to relate to children.

"We wanted an environment that welcomed children and their families; this theme is throughout the Waikids wards and outpatient clinics," said Waikids ward E5 charge nurse Betsy Ann Smith.

The entrance into the ward is dotted with jandals and gumboots, which the board said was "for fun" and the treatment room is painted with different shaped animals which are used as "a distraction".

Waikato DHB nursing and midwifery director Sue Hayward said the board had entered into a "manufacture and supply" contract for uniforms. "The newly-designed uniforms are reflective of the professional status of this workforce and denote what their role is."

She said the organisation had never supported nurses buying their uniforms and employees were "expected" to maintain a standard of dress.